Device for automatically locking drawers and the like



A. EVENSEN Feb. 1l, 1930.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING DRAWERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 20,1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zar/.-

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A. EvENsEN Feb. ll, 1930.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING DRAWERS AND THE LIKE 4 sheets-sheet `2Filed July 20, 1928 ma 5%..,5mi@

RAN @www A. EVENSEN Feb'. 11, 1930.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING DRAWERS ND yTHE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed July 20, 1928 .AN/ NNI! lill/[[5 Ylm i A. EVENSEN 1,746,854

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING DRAWERS AND THE LIKE Feb. 11, 1930.

Filed July 2o. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 11, 1930 1,746,854

UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTON EVENSEN, OF FOX LAKE, ILLINOIS DEVICEFOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING DRAWERS AND THE LIKE Application filed July20, 1928. Serial No. 294,137.

,This invention relates to an attachment In this view the follower isshown in set for automatically locking desk or cabinet position.drawers, doors and the like. The device will Figure 6 is a transverse,horizontal, secmaintain the drawer in locked position for tional viewtaken on the line 6 6 of Fig- 5 a predetermined time, and automaticallyure 5, looking in the direction indicated by 55 permit the reopening ofthe drawer after the arrows. a predetermined time. Figure 7 is ahorizontal, sectional View The object of the invention is to providetaken 1n the plane of the line 7 7 of Figure a keyless device which maybe conveniently 4., looking in the direction indicated by the 1oattached to a drawer or door. In using my arrows. p 60 invention, themere moving of the drawer to Figure 8 is a longitudinal, vertical,secclosed position will act-nate mechanism for tional view taken on theline 8 8 of Figlocking the drawer in said position and will ure 5.

simultaneously wind a spring which will re- Figure 9 is a horizontalsection on the 15 quire a predetermined time to unwind and line 9 9 ofFigure 5, looking upwardly. 65 through certain operative connections tore- Figure l() is a horizontal, sectional view lease the lockingmechanism before the drawtaken on the line 10-10 of Figure 8, looking ermay again be opened. downwardly as indicated by the arrows.

The mechanism embodying my invention Figure ll is a horizontal sectionalView 20 will effectively prevent daylight robberies of taken on the line11 1l of Figure 8, looking 70 cash drawers and the like, for but amoment upwardly as indicated by the arrows. is required to push thedrawer to closed po- Figure 12 is a longitudinal, vertical, secsitionand when once closed it cannot be tional view taken on the line 12 12ot' Figopened until a predetermined time has ure 3, looking in thedirection indicated by L5 elapsed. the arrows. 75

The objects and advantages will more fully Figure 13 is a perspectiveview showing appear as I proceed with my specications. part of thetripping mechanism which is In the drawings: shown in Figure 9. Figure lis a plan sectional view of a cabi- Figure 14 is a perspective view ofthe lever 3o net drawer, having attached thereto a lockfor setting themechanism for compressing 80 ing device embodying my invention; the fullthe bolt springs. lines showing the attachment and drawer in In that.embodiment of my invention shown closed position and the dotted linesindiin the drawings,asubstantially rectangularly eating same when thedrawer is open. shaped housing lfor the mechanism about to Figure 2 is abottom plan, partly in section, be described is indicated at 2O and aforward- S5 taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 4L, looking ly disposedextension housing at 2l. The upwardly as indicated by the arrows; thishousing may be secured in or beneath the view indicating the position ofthe parts drawer 22 at the rear and adjacent one side when the drawer isopen. thereof. The desk or cabinet 23, of which i0 Figure 3 is a viewsimilar to that of Figthe drawer 22 is a part, has a recess 24 in its 90ure 2 but-showing the parts in the position side registering with anaperture in the side they assume when the drawer has been wall of thedrawer, to accommodatea locking closed. Y bolt 25 which is intended toenter therein Figure fle is a longitudinal, vertical, secwhen the draweris closed. The rear wall of 45 tional view taken in the plane of theline the drawer 22 is also apertured to accom- 95 4efl of Figure 2,looking in the ldirect-ion modate a rack 26, suitably supported in theindicated by the arrows. housing.

Figure is a transverse, vertical, sectional 'Ihe housing 2O is dividedinto three horiview taken on the line 5 5 of Figure et, look- `zontalchambers by partitions 27 and 28 (see ing in-the direction indicated bythe arrows. Figure 5). The partition 27 s cutaway at 29. A followercomprising a member 30, connected to a horizontal portion 31, having awall 32 depending therefrom opposite the member 30, is located above thepartition 27. Said wall 32 is apertured as shown in Figure 4 and themember 30 is apertured as best shown in Figure 12. The member 30 eX-tends downwardly into the recess 29 of the partition 27 and is movabletherein.

The locking bolt 25 has a part 25" of decreased diameter and is slidablymounted in the central aperture of the follower wall 32, extendingthrough said aperture and through an opening in the housing while thepart is similarly mounted in the follower wall 30. A coiled spring 33surrounds the bolt 25 and bears against the end of the bolt 25 andagainst the inner surface of the follower wall 30. The tendency of thespring 33 is to force the bolt 25 outwardly into the cabinet recess 24when the follower has been actuated to place the spring 33 undertension.

A pair of bolts 34, are parallel to the bolt 25-25 and are rigidlysecured in opposite side walls of the housing 20 and extend throughapertures in the follower walls 30 and 32. A coiled spring 36 is wrappedaround one of the bolts 34 or 35, one end bearing against the housingwall 20 and the other against the follower wall 30. The purpose of thisspring 36 is to return the follower and bolt to the position shown inFigure 2, when the tripping mechanism, later to be described, isreleased in order to relieve the tension on the bolt The follower wall32 contacts with a pin on the bolt 25 and thereby withdraws it from therecess 24.

I shall now describe the mechanism for placing the springs 33 and 36,and consequently the bolt 25, under tension: This is accomplished bymeans of the mechanism located between the partitions 27 and 2S, saidmechanism including the rack 26 which is actuated by the closing of thedrawer. This rack 26 functions to wind or set a timecontrolled spring byengagement between the rack teeth and a gear 37 operatively connectedwith the spring, and it simultaneously functions to actuate thefollower, comprising the parts 30, 31, 32, so that the bolt 25 will beplaced under tension through the spring 33 and be ready to assume itslocked position when the drawer is completely closed.

The rack 26 has connected to its forward end a member 33 forming ashoulder, said part 33 being apertured and'slidably mounted on a rodconnected to a bracket support 39: A coiled spring 40 is wrapped aroundthe rod and its ends bear against the bracket and shoulder for thepurpose of forcing the rack outwardly toward the rear when the drawer isopened, and room is provided between the drawer and the cabinet for therack 26 to .-ztend through the opening' at the rear of the housing andthrough the drawer.

The rack has rigidly secured to it a curved arm 41, shown in bottom planin Figures 2 and 3. Vhen the rack is moved inwardly and forwardly by theclosing of the drawer, this curved arm 41 comes into contact with thepart 42 of a lever 43, which is pivotally connected at 44 to thepartition 27. This causes the hooked end 45 of the lever 43, movingabout the pivot 44, to engage the depending member 30 of the follower,and moves it from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure3.

A tripping lever is pivotally mounted at 46 on the partition 27, theboss 46 spacing it from the said partition so this lever is in a planeslightly below the plane of the lever 43. The arm 47 of this levernormally engages a pin 48 depending from the lever 43 to hold said lever43, and consequently the follower member 30, in the position shown inFigure 3. The lever arm 47 is held in said normalposition by the spring47. Y The lever arm 49 may be arrested by a stop pin 49. Depending fromthis lever arm 49 is a lug 50, which eX- tends downwardly through arecess in the partition 28 and which contacts with a tripper mechanismwhen the unwinding of the time spring has actuated said tripper means.

It will be seen that when the rack 26 is moved forwardly by closing thedrawer, the curved arm 41 contacts with the part 42 of the lever 43,thereby swinging the lever arm 45 about the pivot 44 to contact with thefollower member 30, thereby compressing springs 33 and 36 and placingthe bolt 25 under tension. Thus the bolt 25 will snap into the recess 24of the cabinet 23 when in registering position.

As stated, this same movement of the rack simultaneously functions toset the time mechanism now to be described: Referring more particularlyto Figures 5 and 8, the rack 26 meshes with the teeth of the gear 37 onthe rotatable shaft 51. A ratchet 52 is connected to the gear 37. Boththe gear and ratchet are loosely mounted upon the sleeve 53, which isintegral with the disk 54. The sleeve 53 and disk 54 are keyed to theshaft 51. On the disk 54 is a pawl 55, pivotally mounted at 56 andspring-pressed by a spring 57. When the gear 37 is rotated by the rack26, the gear 37 and ratchet 52 being connected, said ratchet will engagethe pawl on the disk 54 and will rotate said disk 54, and, consequently,will rotate the shaft 51 by which the time spring within .the barrel 58will be wound.

A pawl 59, pivotally mounted at 60 under the partition wall 28, ispressed by aspring 61 so to engage a ratchet 62, which is keyed to theshaft 51. This holds the shaft 51 against rotation while the time springis unwinding.

Figures 5 and Qshow the tripping mechanism, which is actuated by theunwinding of f for the governor 77.

the spring in barrel 58, and whichv must be actuated before the bolt 25is released. A gear 63, loosely mounted on thevshaft 51, is fastened tothe spring in the barrel 58. Said gear 63`meshes with a gear 64whichcarries a pin 65 which is adapted to engage the tripping device 50 onthe lever arm 49, when the gear 64 has been rotated in a reversedirection by the unwinding of the time spring. This tripping releaseslever 47 from pin 48 on lever 43, and permits the follower to resumeposition shown in Figure 2 to release bolt 25.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 8, the means for governing the unwindingof the timing spring within the barrel 58 includes a main gear 66beneaththe -barrel 58, operatively connected to the timing spring, saidgear 66 meshing with a pinion 67 on the shaft 68, which carries a gear69 which meshes with a pinion 70 on the shaft'71, said shaft 71 carryingthe gear 72 which meshes with the pinion 73 on shaft 74. The shaft 74carries the gear 75, which meshes with pinion 76 This train of gears andthe governor 7 7may be constructed or adjusted to permit the unwindingof the spring in the barrel 58 and the trip action between pin 65 andpartv 50 of the lever 49 to take place at a comparatively short timeafter the parts have been set by the closing of the drawer, or they maybe arranged to keep these parts in locking position over night, ifdesired.

lVhen the tripping action has taken place by the unwinding of the springin the barrel 58, rotation of the gear 63, in mesh with gear 64,carrying the pin 65 for contact with the part 50 on lever 49, by whichcontact be tween the lever 47 and pin 48 on lever 43 is disengaged,releasing the follower wall 30 and springs 33, 36 to permit the bolt 25to be withdrawn from the recess 24, the drawer 22 may be opened. Theopening of the drawer gives the spring 40 an opportunity to expand,pushing the rack 26 rearwardly. This reverse travel of the rack 26 inmesh with `the gear 37, has no effect upon the shaft 51 because the gear37 and ratchet 52 (keyed together) being loose on the sleeve 53, willmerely slip past the pawl 55 on the disk 54.

The parts will remain in the positions shown in Figure 2 until thedrawer is'again closed,

when such closing action will again place the locking bolt under tensionand wind the time spring in the manner heretofore described.

Summarizing the operation of the mechanism hereinabove described, itwill be seen that the means for placing the locking bolt 25 undertension includes the rack 26, which is operated by the closing of thedrawer, said rack carrying the curved arm 41 which con- Y tacts with thelever 43, and through the arm 45 of said lever moves the follower wall30 tO compress the spring 33 on the bolt 25.

v rotatable shaft 51; saidshaftfbeing connected tothe springwithintherbarrel 58.

A The means for holding the shaft 51 against reverse rotation after ithas been'driven to set the time-controlled mechanism includes thepawl-59 engaging the gear-'62, which'v is keyed to the shaft has a gear63 gear 63 being in'v mesh The time-controlled spring attached to it,said with a gear 64 carrying the pin 65. The

winding of the spring moves this pin 65 into the position shown indotted lines Figure 9. `The .parts are in the positions just describedwhen the drawer has been closed andthe bolt 25 has entered the recess24.

To permit the opening of the drawer, it is Inecessary for thetime-controlled,mechanism to reverse or unwind and for the locking boltto be released and withdrawn. "The unwinding of the spring in thebarrel58 -isgoverned by the governor 77, operatively 'connected through thetrain of gears to .the gear 66 connected to the spring. This unwindingcauses the gear 63 on the shaft 51 tomesh with and rotate the gear 64and move the pin 65 from the position shown in dotted lines to thatshown in full lines in Figure 9, where, at the end of the unwindingperiod, the pin65 will contact with the depending portion 'on the lever49, and, by swinging said lever about its pivot 46, will disengage thearm 47 from the pin 48 on lever 43 to release the follower and the bolt25. i

The drawer may then be opened and, although the direction of the travelof the rack is reversed by the opening of the drawer, it will not affectthe position of thefmechanism, because 'the operative action between therack 26 and shaft 51 is disconnected by the slipping of the pawl withrespect to the ratchet 52. f Y

Obviously modifications may be made in the construction without,,departing from the scope ofmy invention, and I do not intend to belimited to the precise form shown and described, except as pointed outin the appended claims. c, f

I claim as my invention: l 1. In -a device for automatically lockingcabinet drawers and the like, securedA toy the means for simultaneously.placing l`said'r bolt under tension and for putting the time-controlledmechanism into operative or set condition.

2. In a device for automatically locking cabinet drawers and the like,secured to the drawer, a spring operated locking bolt adaptedforengagement with the cabinet when the drawer is closed to hold the drawerin closed position, time-controlled mechanism, a rack operable by theclosing of the drawer, means for placing said bolt under tension, andmeans for putting the time-Controlling mechanism into operativecondition, both said means being re atively connected with the rack.

3. In a device for automatically locking cabinet drawers and the like,secured to the drawer, a spring operated locking bolt adapted forengagement with the cabinet when the drawer is closed to hold'the drawerin closed position, time-controlled mechanism, means for placing saidbolt under tension and for simultaneously putting Vthe time-controlled`mechanism into operative condition, and means operatively connectedwith the timecontrolled mechanism for automatically releasing thetension on the locking bolt and withdrawing same from engagement withthe cabinet.

4. In a device for automatically locking cabinet drawers and the like,secured to the drawer, a spring operated locking `bolt adapted forengagement with the cabinet when the drawer is closed to hold the drawerin closed position, time-controlled mechanism, means operable by closingthe drawer for placing said bolt under tension and for simultaneouslyputting the time-controlled mechanism into operative condition, andmeans operatively connected with the time-controlled mechanism forautomatically releasing the tension on the locking bolt and withdrawingsame from engagement with the cabinet.

5. In a device for automatically locking cabinet drawers and the like,secured to the drawer, a spring operated locking bolt adapted forengagement with the cabinet when the ydrawer is closed to hold thedrawer in closed position, time-controlled mechanism, means operable byclosing the drawer for placing said bolt 'under 'tens-ion and forsimultaneously putting the time-controlled mechanism into operativecondition, and

.means operatively connected with the timecontrolled mechanism forautomatically releasing the tension on the locking bolt and ywithdrawing same from engagement with the cabinet, said means forplacing the bolt under tension includingia rack, a pivoted lever, asecond springpressed lever, va follower and a .lcoiled spring betweenthe bolt and the fol- `ower.

6. In a device for .automatically locking cabinet drawers and the like,secured to the drawer, a .spring operated locking bolt adapt- .ed 1erengagement withthembinet when the drawer is closed to hold the drawer inclosed position, time-controlled mechanism, means operable by closingthe drawer for placing said boltiunder tension and for simultaneouslyputting the time-controlled mechanism into operative condition, and`means operatively connected with the time-controlled mechanism Jforautomatically releasing the tension on the locking bolt and withdrawingsame from engagement with the cabinet, said means for placing the boltunder tension including a rack, a pivoted lever, a second spring pressedlever, a follower and a coiled spring between the bolt and the follower,and the means for simultaneously putting the time-controlled mechanisminto operative condition including said rack, a gear in mesh with therack, a rotatable shaft connected with the time-controlled mechanism andoperative connections between the gear and the rotatable shaft.

7. In a device for automatically locking cabinet drawers and the like,secured to the drawer, a spring operated locking bolt adapted forengagement with the cabinet when the dra-wer is closed to hold thedrawer in closed position, time-controlled mechanism, means operable byclosing the drawer for placing said bolt under tension and forsimultaneously putting the time-controlled mechanism into operativecondition, and means operatively connected with the time-controlledmechanism for automatically releasing the tension on the locking boltand withdrawing same vfrom engagement with the cabinet, said lastmentioned means including a rotatable gear carrying a pin adapted forengagement with the means for placing the bolt under tension fortripping the same.

8. In a device for automatically locking cabinet drawers and the like,secured to the drawer, a spring operated locking bolt ladapted forengagement with the cabinet when the drawer' is closed to hold thedrawer in closed position, time-controlled mechanism, means operable byclosing the drawer for placing Said bolt under tension and forsimultaneously putting the time-controlled mechanism into operativecondition, and means operatively connected with the time-.controlledmechanism for automatically releasing the tension on the locking boltand withdrawing same from engagement with .the cabinet, said means forplacing the bolt under tension including a rack, a pivoted lever, asecond spring-pressed lever, a follower and a coiled spring 'between thebolt and the follower, the means for automatically releasing the tensionon the locking bolt including a rotatable gear carrying a pin adaptedfor engagement with the spring-pressed lever.

9. In a device for automatically locking .cabinet drawers and the like,secured to the drawer, a spring-operated locking bolt adapted forengagement with the cabinet when the Cil drawer is closed to hold thedrawer in closed position, time-controlled mechanism, means operable byclosing the drawer for placing said bolt under tension and forsimultaneously putting the time-controlled mechanism into operativecondition, and means operatively connected with the time-controlledmechanism for automatically releasing the tension on the locking boltand withdrawing same from engagement with the cabinet, said means forplacing the bolt under tension including a rack, a pivoted lever, asecond spring-pressed lever, a follower and a coiled spring between thebolt and the follower, and

the means for simultaneously putting the CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,746,854. Granted February 11, 1930, to

ANTON EVENSEN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4,line 14, claim 2, for the word "relatively" read "operative1y"; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of March, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

